The founder and chief executive officer of Urban Prep Academies, a widely lauded and academically successful network of all-male Chicago charter schools serving mostly Black communities, has sued the Chicago Public Schools, claiming he was railroaded by Chicago school officials over unsubstantiated “wild accusations” leveled against him on Facebook by a former student.
On Aug. 30, Timothy King filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court against CPS, the Chicago Board of Education and CPS’ Inspector General Office.
He is represented in the action by attorney Andrew R. DeVooght and others with the firm of Loeb & Loeb, of Chicago.
The complaint centers on action CPS took against him, all but forcing him to resign amid accusations of sexual misconduct and an inappropriate relationship with a former student, identified in the complaint only as I.D.
King resigned as head of Urban Prep Academies in August 2021 after the CPS Inspector General issued a report purportedly corroborating accusations against King by the former Urban Prep student and employee.
King founded Urban Prep in 2003, growing the network from one public charter school in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood to three currently. The Urban Prep curriculum and programs have been lauded for its success in helping young males, primarily from the predominantly Black communities on Chicago’s South Side, to succeed academically. The Urban Prep schools have consistently been recognized for sending 100% of their students to college, according to published reports.
Urban Prep currently has about 1,500 students. Urban Prep’s schools in Englewood and Bronzeville are chartered through CPS.
King remained in the top spot at Urban Prep from its founding until he was abruptly forced out last year following the Inspector General’s investigation of the accusations.
According to a report published in August 2021 by WBEZ, sources allegedly told WBEZ reporters that the report indicated King “groomed” the student, beginning at the age of 16, leading to “years of alleged inappropriate sexual activity.” The report also allegedly indicated King provided money and support to the student after graduation.
King has consistently denied all of the accusations, and vowed he would take to the courts to resume his role within the Urban Prep organization. At the time of his resignation, King’s attorney described the CPS investigation as a “kangaroo” investigation, according to the WBEZ report.
In his new legal complaint, King claims he was railroaded to serve as a prominent example of CPS’ renewed commitment to quickly investigate and address allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment under Title IX of the federal Civil Rights Act.
King noted CPS and the city of Chicago were embarrassed by a Chicago Tribune investigation in 2018 which revealed CPS was “in a ‘state of disarray’ when it came to handling” sexual abuse allegations under Title IX.
That report then triggered an investigation and enforcement action from the U.S. Department of Education, which resulted in CPS in a so-called Resolution Agreement, by which CPS was mandated to change its policies and procedures to comply with Title IX with regard to sexual harassment and misconduct allegations.
However, King claims, when the allegations were brought against him, CPS did not follow its proper procedures, and conducted an alleged unfair investigation.
King asserts CPS and the Inspector General’s office violated his rights by refusing to allow him to defend himself or participate in the disciplinary process.
“Defendants (CPS and the Inspector General) conducted a misguided investigation that did not enable Mr. King to participate in the process as the Defendants’ procedures mandate to help ensure appropriate credibility determinations were made, facts were gathered correctly, and allegations were appropriately tested,” King wrote in his complaint.
“As a result, the CPS OIG issued a report that was riddled with unreliable allegations of a troubled young man over the word of Mr. King – an individual who has dedicated three decades of his adult life to helping thousands of students access better educational opportunities across the country, particularly Black boys and young men in the City of Chicago, without ever being accused of any wrongdoing.”
King claims when his attorney attempted to argue that CPS was not following its own procedures for Title IX investigations, CPS “took the incredible position that the procedures they deemed necessary … did not apply to Mr. King.”
King claims CPS further denied him the opportunity to appeal “the flawed investigation and indefensible result.” He claims CPS refused to allow him to present testimony from a witness who was willing testify that “the student fabricated the allegations against Mr. King.”
“This debacle must be remedied not only for Mr. King and Urban Prep Academies, but for the thousands of students, particularly young Black men in the City of Chicago, who will be deprived of the opportunity to benefit from his tireless commitment to their futures,” King’s attorney wrote in the complaint.
King is asking a Cook County judge to reverse all of CPS’ findings against him, and reverse all of the associated resulting disciplinary measures against King.